MLB Player News

Ragans (5-4) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits over six scoreless innings while striking out 11 in a 4-0 win over Oakland.

Ragans blanked the A's for six innings Wednesday, matching a season high with 11 strikeouts en route to his third win in his last five starts. The 25-year-old southpaw has been quietly excellent since he was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 2, pitching to a 1.93 ERA while recording 44 strikeouts in five starts (32.2 innings). Ragans' ERA is down to 3.66 with a 1.27 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 59 innings between Kansas City and Texas this season. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, tentatively lined up for next week against Pittsburgh.

Kirby did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings against the White Sox. He struck out nine.

Kirby's now gone four starts (27.2 innings) without issuing a walk. He held the White Sox to one run through his first five innings Wednesday, working his way through traffic thanks to his nine strikeouts. However, Trayce Thompson's two-run homer ended Kirby's outing with two outs in the sixth. The 25-year-old right-hander's allowed seven runs over his last two starts (11.2 innings), though he still sports a 2.89 ERA with 49:3 K:BB in his last seven outings. Overall, Kirby's 10-8 across 25 starts (156.1 innings) this season with a 3.28 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He's currently in line for a home matchup with the Athletics early next week.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Flaherty is dealing with "general soreness," Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Hyde downplayed it as a typical between-starts issue and noted that Flaherty just needs a bit more rest, though it's unclear when the 27-year-old right-hander will slot into the rotation again. Dean Kremer got the start in his place Wednesday versus the Blue Jays and Flaherty seems unlikely to be rushed back for Thursday's series finale. He'll be re-evaluated heading into the O's three-game weekend series against the Rockies.

Flaherty said Wednesday that he doesn't know when he'll make his next start after he dealt with an unspecified issue during his most recent outing Aug. 15 in San Diego, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Flaherty had been scheduled to take the mound for the Orioles on Wednesday versus the Blue Jays, but he ended up being scratched and later told reporters that he didn't "bounce back" well following his last turn in the rotation. Asked whether he was scratched for physical or mechanical reasons, the 27-year-old right-hander declined to get into specifics. He has surrendered 11 earned runs in 14 innings (three starts) since being acquired from the Cardinals on Aug. 1.

Kopech is considered day-to-day after exiting prior to the fifth inning of Wednesday's game versus the Mariners due to leg cramps.

Kopech apparently began experiencing cramps as he tried to warm up before the top of the fifth. He scattered four walks and one hit over four scoreless innings while striking out five prior to his departure. The 27-year-old right-hander is currently lined up to take the mound again in Monday's series opener at Baltimore, though he could require a day or two of extra rest. Either way, he doesn't seem to be dealing with an overly serious concern.

Kopech was removed from his start Wednesday against the Mariners due to an apparent injury, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Kopech threw five warmup tosses before the top of the fifth inning and didn't look quite right. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol then visited the mound with a trainer and the 27-year-old right-hander was lifted following a brief chat. He appeared to be shaking out his arm as he made his way to the dugout. Kopech worked four scoreless innings versus Seattle prior to his departure, scattering four walks and one hit while striking out five.

Ryan (groin) is likely to return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday against the Rangers, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Ryan showed well in a minor-league rehab start last Friday with Triple-A St. Paul, tallying seven strikeouts while allowing only one hit -- a solo homer -- across four innings of work. He threw 71 pitches in that outing, so there shouldn't be too much of a limit on his workload as he returns to the fold for Minnesota. The 27-year-old right-hander has been on the IL since Aug. 3 because of a left groin strain.

Kennedy is scheduled to make his next start for the Reds on Friday in Arizona, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Kennedy would have been available to start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Angels on his normal four days' rest, but he'll instead get some extra time ahead of his next start while the Reds presumably turn to Triple-A Louisville call-up Lyon Richardson to make a spot start during the twin bill. The Reds will hand Kennedy a second straight turn through the rotation after he held the Blue Jays scoreless over five innings while striking out two in a no-decision last weekend. Kennedy initially didn't appear to be in line for a lengthy stay in the Cincinnati rotation, but he could end up making multiple starts beyond Friday after lefty Nick Lodolo (tibia) suffered a setback that will push back his return from the 60-day injured list.

Greene will get an extra day of rest before his next start, which will come Saturday in Arizona, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Greene wasn't sharp in his first start back from the injured list Sunday versus the Blue Jays, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in three-plus innings, so a little extra rest couldn't hurt. Brett Kennedy will start Friday in what had been Greene's day to pitch.

Cueto (illness) was spotted playing catch on the field Wednesday prior to the Marlins' game in San Diego, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Cueto was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday after falling ill due to a viral infection, but the fact that he remained on the Marlins' road trip and is now playing catch just two days later offers hope that he'll be in line for a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The Marlins have off days coming up Thursday and next Monday and should be able to get by with a four-man rotation until Cueto potentially makes his return from the IL over Labor Day weekend.